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One of our favorite things about selling real estate is getting to look at all the amazing homes around Indianapolis. Especially in Midtown, there are always homes we view that surprise us.

Just the other day, we were previewing a home for one of our clients and stepped right onto a set from Mad Men. The home was in really good condition….it just looked like it hadn’t been touched since it was built in 1951. Pink and black bathtub and toilets, wide foyer/hallway entry with honeycomb tile, all kinds of vintage chandeliers, limestone fireplace, shag carpets, velvet wallpaper…. and the biggest blast from the past: a built-in tube television.

Definitely needs some cosmetic updating, but the layout is amazing and it could be the coolest ranch home in the area.

Contact us if you want more info on this home, or any home in the Midtown market!

We see it all the time. Buyers driving around from house to house, calling multiple phone numbers they see on “For Sale” yard signs, asking multiple agents the same questions: what’s the price? how many bedrooms? what’s the square footage? etc. etc.

That’s all good if you are a causal shopper, asking info about homes that you are curious about. But if you are serious about buying a house in the near future, that is not the best use of your time.

It’s in your best interest to find an agent, ONE agent, who can represent you as your buyer’s agent. They will listen to what it is you are looking for, and use that criteria to find the best possible home for you. If the agent is a member of MIBOR (Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors), and most agent’s are, they have access to every house that is available on the market. They can set up showings for you and take you to view as many homes as you’d like.

This is better for a couple reasons:

-It saves you time. Instead of calling each listing agent for homes you are interested in, you just have one point of contact who can do the research for you.

-When you call a number on a sign, you are calling the listing agent, who represents the seller. If you end up buying that home, then the agent would be representing you AND the seller. A listing agent CAN represent both a seller and a buyer on the same deal, as long as both parties agree to it in writing. This happens all the time, and it happens successfully, but do keep in mind that there is a conflict of interest and it can sometimes get sticky.

Our recommendation is to research agents who are experts in the area or neighborhood you want to buy in. Look at the testimonials on their website or Zillow profile. Even better, if you know someone who has recently bought a home, ask them who their agent was and if they liked them.

One last thing- as a buyer, you don’t pay anything to your agent. Your agent get’s paid by the listing agent when you close on a home. Yay!

There are a lot of real estate agents out there. Not every agent if for you, and (believe it or not) you are not for every agent. So how do you know which one to hire? Here are a few tips to help guide you while interviewing and researching real estate agents.

1. Testimonials/Reviews

Read an agent’s reviews from other clients they have worked with recently. What other homebuyers and sellers say about an agent will be your best insight into how the agent works, and how the experience will be working with them. You can find their reviews on their website, Zillow profile, or Facebook. Or you can ask the agent for a list of their recent clients who you can call.

2. Market knowledge

Look for an agent who specializes in your area or neighborhood. Those agents are going to be most knowledgeable about what’s selling and what’s currently listed near your home. They will also know the nearby restaurants, shops, schools, etc., which they will use (at least they should!) to better market your home to buyers who want to be near those amenities.

3. Look at their current listings.

Get online and research the agent’s current listings. Especially look at their pictures and the property descriptions. 90% of homebuyers start their search online, and use pictures to determine if they want to go see a home in person. So the pictures better show VERY well online! The description of the property is important as well. It should include all information about the home that current buyers are looking for (if ACTUALLY included of course!). Click HERE for a list of what current homebuyers are looking for.

4. Do you like them?

You don’t have to be best friends with the person, but your agent should be someone you generally have a good gut feeling about. If you like your agent and have a good rapport with them, the more likely you’ll trust them.

Hope that helps in your search for a real estate agent! As always, call the Indy Scene Team with any real estate questions you may have.

Outdoor living space – patio, deck, fire pit, and pergolas are SO hot right now.

Walkable– the closer to local restaurants, shops, parks, the better!

Parking-Having a garage adds value to your home, and is always a plus for buyers.

Character-people looking in midtown want to see character (built-ins, original hardwood floors, etc). Thats what makes Midtown homes so great!

Updates-while buyers like the character of the older homes found in Midtown, upkeep and updates are typically needed in the older homes.

A deal– this isn’t just for Midtown homebuyers; everyone is looking for a good deal. Look at what houses are selling for near your home, and what is currently listed. Pricing your home competitively from the start will get the most buyer’s attention the fastest.

Most people plan out their Labor Day Weekend in advance. A trip to the lake, perhaps? People over for a cook out? (If you’re Sarahbeth, you go to Jamaica – LUCKY!) Others do the last minute thing. Maybe because they are procrastinators, but if you’re like me, you simply didn’t realize it was already Labor Day (it’s next weekend people!). So, since I’m not leaving town, and not having people over, what is there to do!?

Worry no more late planners, the 2013 Warm Fest is here! It’s a weekend long event that features the Broad Ripple Music Festival and the Indy Arts & Vintage Marketplace. Check out the amazing line up of bands HERE. It’s not Lollapalooza, but it’s right here in our own back yard, conveniently located in Broad Ripple Park. And at $40 per day (or $90 for a 3 day pass), it’s very affordable for a music festival.

While Indy Scene Team sells real estate anywhere in the Indianapolis Metro area, our specialty (and what we truly love) is Midtown real estate. Midtown consists of a few different neighborhoods, the three largest being Broad Ripple, Meridian Kessler, and Butler Tarkington. You just can’t beat the variety and character of the homes that fill these neighborhoods, and it’s a pleasure helping those that live here, (and those who want to live here) buy and sell their homes!

Christie lives in Meridian Kessler, Sarahbeth in Butler Tarkington, and Stevee is currently looking to move to Midtown as well! Click HERE to find out more about the agents of the Indy Scene Team. Call us anytime if you need a Midtown real estate expert!